Marjorie Staples introduces John McConnell and talks about how his “Minute for Peace” came about. Minute for Peace has a goal of encouraging everyone around the world to take a minute to think about peace and to join together in thought. McConnell talks about the origin of Minute for Peace and what it has accomplished. The period of mourning following President Kennedy’s assassination was ended with a new dedication to peace through Minute for Peace. Secretary General Thant gave the first regular Minute for Peace message about the importance of peace being in the minds of the people before there can be peace in the world. McConnell goes on to highlight that our fear of one another and our lack of communication have prevented our realizing the great potential of the planet. McConnell believes that if people took at least one minute a day to reflect on peace, the movement would spread very rapidly. The second Minute of Peace, which was given by Dr. Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, founder of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, in San Francisco at the 20th anniversary of the United Nations, is heard. Malalasekera speaks on the importance of combating hatred with love. To end, McConnell suggests we all pause, join hands with those around us, and reflect on the people around the world with the shared goal of world peace in mind.
Acknowledgment
This recording was digitized and made accessible as part of the “Digitizing the Sound and Sight of American Women’s Work for Peace and Justice” grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, 2019 (grant number PW-264110-19).
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